Wigan prop Cooper retires on medical advice

Mike Cooper made 23 appearances for Wigan Warriors

Wigan Warriors prop Mike Cooper has retired on medical advice after suffering a concussion in July.

The 36-year-old former England international has not featured since having to go off in the early stages of the win over Leigh on 5 July and has been told by neurologists that he risked more serious damage if he continued playing.

Cooper started his career with Warrington and returned to the Wire after a spell in the NRL with St George Illawarra, before joining Wigan in 2022.

“I am gutted that my playing days have ended this way, however that’s sport," he told the club website.

Cooper sustained anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage in a win over St Helens on Good Friday in 2023 which sidelined him for the rest of the season.

He returned from that serious knee injury in February to help the Warriors beat Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge.

He then added further silverware in June when he was part of the team that beat Warrington in the Challenge Cup final, despite becoming the earliest recipient of a yellow card in the fixture when he was sin-binned in the second minute.

The Wembley showpiece was to be one of his final appearances.

He had to be helped from the field by the club's medical staff after making a tackle on Robbie Mulhern in the opening moments of the game against Leigh, and failed a head injury assessment (HIA).

Head coach Matt Peet said at the time "it might be that we’ll give him a bit longer [time off], but we’ll look after him".

"These things happen in games of rugby. They are not nice to see to anyone but the players' health and welfare in the short and long-term has to be the priority," Peet added.